poled on the latter. On this account therefore have little reason to expect that the Patowmac is more unhealthy. If we conlider their comparatiVe fuuation with refpett to the weft, the Patowm-c is almost ?s much farther weft, arit is distant from the oulquehanna—nnd we well know that generally speaking as we retire towards the western and high country, we are generally re moved from the caiifes of those diseases to which lower situations a /" e ej JP°j* ed - Asalfothetwo places are nearly in the fame latitude, the ojjectiou which holds with refpe&to southern climes cannot apply to one more than the other. It is only their western or eaft crn position, their remove from or proximity to the lower coun try, and to frefh or stagnant water which can properly be brought into view. It is not because we advance so much to the south that we advance to the centrc, it is because we go more to the weft. I do not know that there isa different of more than a degree and five or fix minutes between the latitudeof New-York and the pro posed place on the Patowmac. The advantage the Patowmac lias from its centrality, is derived more from its western than itsfoiithern position. 1 will not at present go farther in this argument, and flatter mylelt that the considerations which have been suggested will have their proper weight, and if they (hould becontradiaed, that we (hall he able further to support them. [Daily AJv ] Mr. Ames after some introductory observations, remarked that a certral fuuation is to be taken. He offered many reasons to shew that the centre of a fca coast line is to be regarded—ln substance they were because, it is more conveniently acce/fiHe, has more wealth and more people than an equal area of inland country. Be ing wore liable to inuajion, government (hould be near to protest it. It is the interr/l ol the back country to have the government near the lea, to mfpeft and encourage trade ; by which their abundant pro duce will find an export.—And lastly, he said the contingency of thejeparation of the western country was a reason for preferin- the lea coast. ° He proceeded next to fay There will not be any contest where this centre of the sea coast line is to be found. It falls be tween the rivers Patowmac and Sufquehanna. It will be found that there are good reasons why we should rather moveeaft than south If the sea coast line is to be prefered, it will follow, that the back lands weftof which the gentleman from Virginia has lo often taken into his calculations, will be excluded Thev are not peopled. They do not affect the sea coast line. And that line has already been voted to be the proper one by the committee •As it is true that the sea coast has more wealth and people than the inlandl country in propoition to the extent, it is equally true that the eaftcrn half of the sea coast has more of both than thefouthern 11 we reckon Maryland, which will be as well accommodated by the Sufquehanna as by the Patowmac, we lhallfind the popu lation of the eastern part nearly two millions and that of the louthcrn only one million. And the population of free inhabi tants itill less in favor of the latter. But, Sir infteadof seeking a centre geographically, we (hould conlider the centre of common convenience. That place is the proper one, where the greatest number of persons will be belt ac commodated. I will endeavor to lhew,that that will be on the Sufquehanna. Is the zeal of gentlemen who oppose this design influenced by their despair of removing the feat of government af terwards ? I believe the people of America will iiot complain of i • It fixed there, I think it will be found convenient and will remain there. Hie Sufquehanna is the centre of common convenience. At this moment, there ismore wealth and more inhabitants east than Jouth of it. But the future population of America is calculated, and it is pretended that the balance of population isreceding from the eall. Surely, the present inhabitants may be allowed princi pally to consult their own convenience. Weftofthe Ohiois an almost immeafureable wildemefs. When it will be fettled.or how it will be pofiible to govern it, is past calculation. Gentlemen ■will pardon me, if I think it perfectly romantic to make this de c on depend upon that circumstance. Probably it will be near a century before those people will be considerable. If we fix the national feat in the proper place now, it would give me no inquie tude to know that an hundred years hence it may be liable to be removed. But in fafl, the principle which is aflumed by the committee, and which I have attempted to juftify, of takinn- the centre of the sea coast line, will even in the event of that vast tract being fettled, furnilh abundant reason for its remaining on the oulquehanna. I will not recapitulate those reasons. We mull take some principle to guide u. : And though some inequalities will appear, yet let gentlemen remember, that in so vast a coun try, great inconveniences will attend the communications of the people with the government, be the feat of it where it may • And by taking the centre of the sea cost line they will be less than up on any_other principle. It will be found beftto accommodate the greatest number : Or in other words to be the centre of common convenience. Indeed this is not denied to be true at this moment. But the cafe is said to be changing. On the one hand, I think it is Utopian to calculate upon the population of the United States a century hence : And on the other, I admit that it is impolitic at lean, perhaps unjust, to confine our attention to the present popu lation : A quarter of a century may be a medium. Will gentle men deny that tradeand manufaflures will accumulate people in trie eastern States in the proportion of 5 to 3 compared with the iouthern ? Thedifproportion will doubtlefscontinue to be much greater than I have calculated. It is actually greater at present. ', c ' ,ma te and negro slavery are acknowleged to be unfa vorable to population. So that hulbandry as well as commerce and manufaaures will give more people in the eaftcrn than the southern State-. The very circumstance that gentlemen found tncir reasonings upon is pretty strongly against their calculation. ine> tell us olthevaft quantities ofgood land ftillunfettledm their itates. That will produce a thin population. For the old lands will not be crouded so longas new lands are to be had. , n j ' h r crtfore ' as we may be allowed to look forward, the eastern half from this central feat will be far more populous than the ether. In New-England the fettfed parts are laid to contain aoout 45 to a square mile. Much is said of the reparation of the western territory At a remote period, the jnnaion of the Britith colonies with the Union might be taken into view. The feat of government on the Sufquehanna will be nearly ac °y water to all the people near the sea coast. By Dela ware river on one fide and Chefapt ak Bay on the other. Let us next consider the inland navigation of this river. Pittf burg on the Ohio may be considered as the key of those waters • at least to the northward. It is a kind of common centre. Let , "s lee how we {hall approach it by the Sufquehanna. From Havre de Grace, at the mouth of Sufquehanna, ) and at the head of the Chefapeak to Wright's ferry is C 4° miles (And here the federal town propably will be.) To Harris' ferry, - . -20 To the month of Juniata river, t l'p Juniata river to the Standing Stone, Portageto Conimac, Old town, _ Down the Kilkiminetas river to the Allegany river 60 Down that river to Pitfburg, _ - ' 30 And from the supposed feat of government at Wright's ) '' ° ferry only - _ ° > 230 Let us compare this route to Pittlburg.with that by thePatowmac. From the tide water on Patowmac to Fort ) Cumberland, > 200 miles Portage to the three forks of Turkey Foot, . ,o Water carriage, and portage one mile, at the falls of > Yohiogany, - - _ > 9 Down the Yohiogany to the Ohio, . I'p to Pufburg, . 3°4 I have rcafon to confide in tliefe calculations. The latter is said to be made by a distinguished person whose authority no man will difpure. If it is true, or any thing near true, it will destroy the whole argument in favor of the Patowmac. I have consulted the bell informed persons out of the House, and believe the statement to be true, as it respects both rivers. If it is, the pondrous edifice which the gentleman from Virginia has erected with so much labor crumbles to powder. For it will appear, that it is more than 70 miles nearer by the Sufquehanna and Juniata to Pitfburtr than by way of the Patowmac. Neither should we forget that from the tidewater onthe Patow mac to Chefapeak is near 200 miles. Of course, the access by water is less convenient and direct! The eastern branch of the Sufquehanna is na. vigable to the head, at lake Otfego. A detach ment of Gen. Sullivan's troops came in boats from that lake quite down the river. This river flretches it's long arms and embraces a vast country, comprehending not less than twenty millions of acres. Let us next consider the connection through this water with the lakes. Its branches approach the Allegany river very near, and by a portage of only three miles communicate with the waters of Lake Erie. Reckoning from Fort Pitt, Lake Erie and its waters, and the several branches of the Sufque hanna,it will be found that more than fifty thous and square miles are accommodated with water carriage. Perhaps, out of America, there is not such ancther instance in the world. Yet this is not all. The water communication by the Patowmac is fubfervienc to the argument for the Sufquehanna. For if the western country is (o wonderfully accommodated by its waters that it is an high-way, then it is only 60 miles travel, a mere portage, to Wright's ferry. They will be on a footing wich those who come by sea, and they will have still greater advantages over many of those who travel by land. However, Mr. Jefferfon's account of the Pa towmac does notcorrefpond with the praises now bellowed upon it. He fays the fallsare fifteen miles long, and speaks very unfavorably of the interior navigation. In the i'ummer it's waters are very fubje<ft to fail. My informants prefer the waters of the Sufquehanna. Admiting, however, that the Patowmac is as commodious as the other' still there are weighty reasons in favor of it's rival. The advantage to the neighboring country in point of trade, resulting from the federal town is very unefl'ential in a national view. The peo ple on the Patowmac will not be injured in the conveyance or sale of their produce by having it fixed on the Sufquehanna. For the influence of the federal town in this refpeit will not ex tend far. And as to the convenient access to the government: It will make only sixty miles differ ence which surely is not an obje<ft. But the great national point is, to fix the feat of govern ment in that place, where it will best secure the Union. The Patowmac is in some degree exposed to two dangers : By sea, and from the mountains : Large vellels can go to Georgetown. The events of the late war have proved that there is a foundation for this apprehension. The western country is to be viewed under different circumstances. From Lake Erie, byPitfburg, to the head of the Chefa peak, the people are naturally connected with us. They must fend their produce through the States But lower down the Ohio, and on the MifTifmpi' the people have their export by the latter river. It the latter should separate from the Union, they will not be willing to leave thefouthern states in the Union. The separation will not take place by the mountains, which are far from being im paflable. The capital, if imprudently placed so far foutliweft will furnifli a temptation to this cuvilion, and strength and resources to maintain it. I will not dilate on this idea, tho I think it an importantone. The more it is weighed,the more hazardous and preposterous it will place the capital in a situation, where gentlemen's own arguments admit, when they speak of the contin gency of losing the western country, that we may need all our strength, and yet, where we should be able to command buta small part of it. Contrail this with the Sufquehanna. Thecoun try is perfectly fafe from both dangers of inva lion by lea and from the mountains. If a division lould happen, the feat of government will fall ° n t u C n ng ,de of " the dividing line—and so much strength on the frontier of that line will prevent a division. For the country from Lake trip to ort Pitt, and from thence to Lake Cham plain, vaftm its extent, its foil fruitful, itsclimate favorable to the production of an hardy race of men, and to sustain a vast multitude of them-Hrhis yaft country will be benefited in some decree, and in a greater attached to the Union by fitino- the feat of government in this place. Besides nature has united them by indiflbluble ties to the States —unless a feeble government should engender the anarchy of many separate fovereigntie S g ft is a pleasing refledhon to trace the effect of the strength of this part of the western territory to wards fecurmg the remaining western in the Union. In every event, the country, eall of a line drawn from Lake Erie to the ri - will be fafe from the force of any America—will that other part be faf P r P of eastern part ? Tho national iuiHceand rK -, his policy iliould direct our counsels vet a J men will find a motive and a pretex'f or f„ Ui ing a division. Butthofe near the line Tf ealtern half will be unwilling to be a f • Those farther south will be eqfally f 0 ' j , er ' terrier in cafe „f a »• « pole to their northern neighbors ? The moYrl P ' furnifh none, and both parties live beyond them The great rivers will expose them to hofti !' roads, as they will afford a convenient pa(lk 2e t troops. In fact, the weftem people will s ecure the western people. If the separation fhoU notwithstanding take place, it would not be cause nature directs it. We should have the co ' folation of reflecting that we have provided ! best means of preventing its happening at all, and from it, after it has happened, the belt security against the effects which will result. 1 I will not pretend to fay that any one of these arguments is conclusive—nor do I flatter myfelf that they will immediately produce conviction I place dependence 011 the moderation and good lenfe of gentlemen who poflefs public spirit and private honor. I rely upon the calm review which they will make of my observations a week hence when the fervor of this debate has fubfkled. ' I appeal to their candor at that time to decide whether in point of centrality, accelfibility, pro . tetftion to the Union, salubrity, and fafety from insurrection and invasion, there is not solid reafou for eftablilhing the feat of government on the Sufquehanna. I will not fay that the Patowmac is mlalubrious. tfut it is well known that north ern constitutions are impaired by removing to a more southern latitude. The air may be health ful—but the change is found to be pernicious to them. Whether there is any foundation for it, or not, the eastern people would dread the experi' ment. 1 he preservation of the Union is the wortfiieft objeJl ofa patriot's wiffies. The world has doubt ed our success. I feel a consolation in the opin ion that the measure I am. contending for will best contribute to that end. An American legislature may seek true glory by such measures as will tend to secure the Union, to preserve peace, and todif fufe the blessings of science, liberty, and good government over agreater extent of country, and in an higher degree, than the world ever enjoy ed them. Surely this will interest the pride of every honest heart. It is the philosophy of am bition—it is the religion of politics. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12. A meflage was received from the Senate by Mr. Secretary Otis with the bill for eftablilhing the compensations of the Members of the two Houses and their respective officers, concurring in the amendment of the House, to the amendment of the Senate. In committe of the whole on the bill for eftab lilhing judicial courts. Mr. Boudinot in the chair. The committee proceeded in the difcuffionas far as the 28th feition, when they role and re ported progress ; and the House adjourned. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14. The committee appointed to examine the en rolled bills, reported that the bill for eftablilh ing the compensations of the Members of both Houses and their respective officers, having been examined was found correct: The Speaker then affixed his signature to the fame. A memorial from the Baron de STUBtNwas read and laid on the table. The memorial of the weighers and gaugersof the city ofNew-York, praying that their fees may be enhanced, was read a second time. A meflage was received from the Senate with the bill for suspending the operation of a claule in the collection law, in which they have con curred, with amendments. Also the bill forfuf pending the operation of a clause in the tonnage act, non-concurred. The amendments proposed by the Senate to the resolution of the House providing for amend ments to the Constitution, were read, andon mo tion it was voted that a number of copies be struck off for the use of the Members. I he amendments to the bill for suspending the clause in thecolleition law, were then read, an acceded to on the part of the House. , . * These amendments provide for the relief o Rhode-Island and North-Carolina, in lieu of t e provision intended by the suspension of patt° tonnage act. The House then went into a committee of t e whole onthe judicial bill. Mr. Smith (S. C.) proposed the amendment to the 29th section, which re /^ e r juries, viz. That all juries which lhall be u moned to serve in the courts of the 1 r States, shall be formed according to the * a%vS each State respectively. This amendment >v adopted. . . r e Mr.BußKr moved to insert the following o a . in the fame feiftion, viz. In cases of f<?t° n ) '
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